"We are ready for any kind of format of energy ceasefire. ... I don't know the Russian position," Zelensky said after meeting directly with Trump at the U.N.

As Russia held its parliamentary elections from Sept. 18 to 20, it also organized, for the first time, the vote in Ukrainian territories that Russia illegally claims as its own. Ukraine and the European Union have rejected the vote as illegal. The purpose of holding the sham election in occupied territories goes far beyond choosing Russian lawmakers. Russia uses the elections in Ukrainian territories under military occupation to project the image that residents accept Russian rule and are inte

"What signal does this send? Frankly, astonishing and embarrassing," said Ukraine's sanctions chief Vladyslav Vlasiuk on social media.

In an interview with the Kyiv Independent, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics said his government is preparing for cyberattacks, information campaigns, and possible disruptions by Russia.

*Russia imposes restrictions near Estonian border amid mobilization concerns *Ukraine confirms strikes on 2 Russian oil refineries in Ufa, Samara *SBU says it foiled FSB-linked plot to assassinate K-1 kickboxing federation president in Kyiv *Trump says he'll use Graham bill's Russia sanctions 'if necessary' *Ukraine strikes Russian drone storage and launch site in Oryol Oblast, damages 5 launchers

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said three of the injured were hospitalized, while the others received medical assistance at the scene.

The European Union is expected to lift sanctions on two high-profile Russian oligarchs — Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman. The ruling will come after days of intense negotiations that could have seen the entire package of EU sanctions, imposed since 2022, go to waste. The push was spearheaded by Slovakia, yet it was France that held the new round of sanctions extensions hostage. The Financial Times previously reported that Paris wants to delist Usmanov because Azerbaijan has made it a condi

The strike targeted a facility near the settlement of Tsymbulova in Oryol Oblast, roughly 150 kilometers (93 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

"Last week, in honor of Senator Lindsey Graham, I signed a powerful new law passed by Congress, providing me with enormous new tariff authorities," Trump said in his address at the U.N. General Assembly in New York. "And, if necessary, I will have to use them. It's time to stop the killing."

Ever since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian fertilizer industry has had a sanctions-free pass. One can see why such a free pass was granted. When it came to Russian fertilizer exports, both the U.S. and the EU prioritized food security. They did not want to increase food prices and reduce food security by banning Russian fertilizer. While that was an understandable reaction, it overlooked the role that fertilizer plays in munitions production. Fertilizer produc

“Even if we wanted to supply (potash) to Western markets, we simply do not have those volumes — everything is contracted," Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko said.

The SBU did not publicly name the intended target, saying only that he had fought for Ukraine since 2022, first in Kyiv Oblast and later on the eastern front, and currently heads a nationwide civic organization while working as a kickboxing coach.

International joint ventures in Ukraine's defense tech sector are on the rise, with at least 180 partnerships in manufacturing, R&D, and maintenance confirmed by a new report from the Kyiv School of Economics Institute. But export restrictions and fragmented procedures are slowing some deals. A third of those partnerships were signed in the past 12 months as Ukraine's defense tech sector has matured and consolidated. German companies lead the group with 36 partnerships, followed by Denmark with

The main targets of the attack were Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Poltava oblasts, while strikes were recorded at 22 locations.

The move comes as security concerns are growing along Russia’s northwestern border. NATO officials have warned about Russian drone incursions, airspace violations, sabotage, and other hybrid threats, while countries in the region have been strengthening air defenses.

The Kuibyshev oil refinery in the Russian city of Samara was hit in an overnight drone attack by Ukrainian forces.

"We are also ready to secure additional SAMP/T air defense systems and missiles for them using the financial resources available through the EU loan," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Nobody expected Russia's parliamentary election to wrest power from President Vladimir Putin, with preliminary results on Sept. 21 showing the Kremlin-backed United Russia party winning once again with nearly 58% of the vote. Instead, the question after the election is whether, when, and in what form the Kremlin will launch a new mobilization wave that Kyiv has warned could follow the vote — and which Russia may ultimately need to pursue its war objectives. Russia remains committed to capturin

Observers described the Sept. 18-20 parliamentary election as the "dirtiest" vote in Russia's modern history. In a country that has not held free and fair elections for nearly three decades, that might seem like a difficult result to achieve. All independent media were banned soon after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, ensuring a media landscape where no criticism of the authorities is allowed during elections. All genuine opposition parties were also banned from running. Even a mode

The number includes 1,230 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he discussed air defense for Ukraine and a possible Kyiv-Moscow energy infrastructure truce with U.S. President Donald Trump.

In addition to conferring with Trump, Zelensky said that around 20 other meetings with officials and organizations were planned. He also announced that a new deal concerning drones was ready to be signed.

Kallas' comments came as EU ambassadors failed to finalize a deal on renewing sanctions against nearly 3,000 Russia-linked individuals and entities, with negotiations set to continue just hours before the measures are due to expire.

Coreper II, the EU ambassadors’ body, said talks would resume at 8 a.m. Brussels time on Sept. 22 "with the aim of finalising agreement."

Speaking to the Hungarian parliament, Magyar said, "We had a good reason not to go."

Ruslan Kravchenko had not returned to work after his official foreign business trip ended on Sept. 18.

Key developments on Sept. 21: * Russia's total oil refining capacity down 45% after mass attack on Moscow * Exclusive: EU readies biggest-ever sanctions package targeting Russia's war machine * Russia 'lost control' of its oil refining industry due to Ukraine's attacks, Trump says ahead of Zelensky meeting * 69% of Russian soldiers on Zaporizhzhia front line have criminal records, Ukrainian military says * Ukraine's Culture Ministry announces major fundraising initiative to help publishers

Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar rejected the construction of Ukrainian oil storage facilities on Hungarian territory, chastising Mol for allegedly negotiating with the Ukrainian side without consulting the government.

The assessment comes a day after major strikes on the Moscow Oil Refinery by Ukrainian drones and missiles.

Trump said that the deal would be more advantageous than buying the fertilizer from Canada.

According to internal analysis conducted by the military, 31% of Russia's overall force had signed up to avoid criminal charges, and 24% were in the military to improve their financial situation.

The proposal by the European External Action Service (EEAS), the EU's diplomatic arm, calls for adding 827 entities and 744 individuals to the bloc's sanctions list, marking the largest single package of listings to date.